Air distribution outlet



Feb. 4, 1958 w. w. KENNEDY AIR DISTRIBUTION OUTLET Filed Aug. 16, 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet l mm ,M w M c o ego( no Feb.v 4, 1958 w. w* KENNEDY `'2,821,898

VAIR DISTRIBUTION OUTLET Filed Aug'. 16, 1955 l 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 @29 L AI c i lulmImm [1i il Il) l IIII f I l@ ff 29; Il! v 111| a/ mmm l I HH W h/a/tef Kennedy ATTORNEYv y Feb. 4, 1958 w. w. KENNEDY AIR DISTRIBUTION OUTLET 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 1e, 1955 T INVENToR. I/d/er Kennedy BY W96 MAH-Jfw ATTORNEY# Feb. 4, 1958 w. w. KENNEDY 2,821,898

AIR DISTRIBUTION OUTLET l Filed Aug. 16,. 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS Feb. 4, 1958 y w. w. KENNEDY 2,821,898

AIR DISTRIBUTION OUTLET Filed Aug. 1e, 1955 I a sheets-sheet 5 INVENToR. h/d/ter h4 /lcwfveafy Cai; wJ,

ATTORNEYS Feb. 4, 1958 w. w. KENNEDY AIR DISTRIBUTION OUTLET Filed Aug- 1e, 1955- 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Will INVENTOR.

, Wa Nef/4( /Ime/ BY CMLW Feb. 4,` 1958 w. w. KENNEDY AIR DISTRIBUTION OUTLET Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Aug. 16, 1955 IN VEN TOR. Wa /fef n4 fre/W@ BY ATTORNEYS Y Feb. 4, 1958 w. w. KENNEDY 2,821,898

AIR DISTRIBUTION OUTLET Filed Aug. 16,' 1955 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 IN V EN TOR.

Wa/e W Kennedy BY Mbml Mir/MJ fwd-...

ATTORNEYS United States Patent O AIR DISTRIBUTION OUTLET Walter W. Kennedy, Rockford, Ill.,- assignor to BarbervColman Company, Rockford, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 16, 1955, Serial No. 528,670

18 Claims. (Cl. 98'40) This invention relates to outlets for use in air conditioning systems to control the manner of distribution of air into a room.

A general object is to provide an outlet which may be adjusted easily to vary the direction, pattern, or volume of the discharged air, which produces a high aspirating effect, and which has a generally flat discharge face that may be disposed substantially flush with the room wall and thus blended into an acoustical tile or other block type construction.

A more detailed object is to employ a perforated plate for the face of the outlet combined in a novel manner with a deflector acting on the incoming air stream to control the discharge through the plate perforations and produce desired angles ofdischarge of the air into the room.

A third object is to correlate in a novel manner the dimension of the inlet or neck of the unit with the thickness and free air area of the perforated face plate to enable a centrally located deector to be effective in exercising the desired control over the direction of the air discharge into the room.

A fourth object is to provide an outlet of the` above character in which different angles and patterns of discharge of the air areachieved by a novel construction and positioning of the deflector.

. A fifth object is to provide a novel construction of the deilector which eliectuallyV avoids discoloration of the exposed face of the perforated plate by contact` with room aspirated air even though the air delivered through the unit is at a very low temperature.

A sixth object is to correlate the shape of the deflector with that of the inlet and outlet of the unit so as to vary the velocities attained in the discharged air stream at different points'angularly spaced and outwardly beyond the periphery of the outletopening.

A seventh object is to provide Within the unit a novel arrangement of vanes for controlling the volume of air delivered through the unit'.

' An eighth object is to provide a' novel means for varying the pattern of the air discharge automatically in accordance with changes in the condition of the incoming air.

A ninthv` object is to adapt the unit for the return of air from the room through th'e unit itself.

Other objects and advantages' of1 the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a fragmentary cross sectional view of the wall of a room equipped with an air distribution unit embodying the novell features of the present invention, the unit being shown as a section taken along the line 1`1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a face view of the unit.

, Fig. 3` is an enlarged fragmentary' section of a part' of Fig; 1l.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a diiferent position of adjustment.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the face plate of the unit.

Figs. 6 and 7 are views similar to Fig. 5 showing modi-A iied shapes of the face plate perforations and illustrating different positions of the parts.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken alongthe line 88 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of one part of the deilector member.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the improved unit looking at the top thereof.

Fig. 11 is a section taken along the line 11--11 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary plan View of Fig.- l0.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a modified form of the deector member.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 14- 14 of Fig. 13.

Fig. l5 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Figi'. l showing a modication.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of a modification of the unitshown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary sectional View taken* alongz the line 17-17 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to Fig. 10 showing a modied arrangement of the inlet and deflector plate.

Fig. 19 is |a fragmentary elevational view similar to Fig. l1 showing the pattern produced by a further modification of the deflector.

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary bottom v-iew of Fig. 19.'

Fig. 2l is a view similar to Fig. 20 showing a modication thereof.

Fig. 22 is a chart showing the distribution of the air velocities around the axis of the outlet'whenthe deector is positioned as shown in Fig. 4.

Figs. 23, 24, and 25 are similar charts for different arrangements and shapes of the deilector inlet.

While the invention is susceptible of various niodii'- cations and alternative constructions, I have shown inv the drawings and will herein describe in detail the pre'- ferred embodiment. It is to ber understood, however, that I do not intend to limit the invention by su'ch disclosure, but aim to coverv all modications andy alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressedin the appended claims.

The improved distribution unit includes a tubular casing having a collar 10 atone end defining an inlet 11 and aring at the opposite or outlet end which is adaptedf toL be mounted in the ceiling 12 and, as shown in Figs l0V and l1, may be of the same size and shape as the tile or blocks 13 commonly used in acoustical' walls. The collar 10 is adapted to telescope within and be connected to the branch 14 of an air supply duct 14a;

In the forms shown in Figs. 1, 2, 10, and 15, the collar' 10 is square in cross section and the ends of its flat sidesmerge at 16 with the casing walls 17 which are ilat` all the Way` to the discharge edge and form a pyramidall fiustum having a slope of about 60. The walls 17 terminate in flanges 18 which may, if desired, overlap the adjacent parts of the ceiling as shown in Figs. l and 4, and define edges of a rectangular outlet opening9. As

`an alternative, the edge portion of the flange may be bent upwardly at right angles as indicated at 19 inFigs. l0 and l5 and sized to fit between four of the ceiling or wall blocks 13. In this case, the flange edges 18a' are' formed with longitudinal ribs 20l which form grooves receivingthe ribs on theusual T-bars 21 that are used to supper-tithe adjacent ceiling blocks.

The inner peripheral portion of the flanges 18 or 18a is depressed slightly to provide a seat for receiving the edges of a at perforated face plate 22 which is substantially flush with the outer face of the ilange 18 and may be enclosed at its edges by a narrow frame 23 secured to the ange by screws 24. The perforations 25 in the plate 22 are relatively small and of equal size and, to provide the necessary impingement areas for causing lateral spreading of the discharged air streams as will be described later, the perforations are spaced apart uniformly and correlated in size with the plate thickness so as to permit the free flow of air outwardly and at large angles relative to the axis as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4. The shape of the holes is largely a matter of designpreference. For example, they may be circular as shown in Figs. 2,'5, and 10 or of any other desired s hape such as the elongated slots a shown in Figs. 6 and 7 arranged in groups with the slots of adjacent groups perpendicular to each other.

The invention aims to controllably vary the pattern of the air discharged through the perforations of the outlet by Vcorrelating numerous factors including the thickness of the face plate 22, the free area of the plate, and the size of the uncovered plate area in relation to the elective area of the inlet 11. Preferably, the face plate is less than .035 of an inch thick and the free air area there through, that is, the total area of the holes 25, is between and 55 percent of the total area of the plate. The area of the plate should be at least four times the free area of the inlet 11 at its .smallest section.

With a unit thus proportioned, the desired control over the air discharge pattern is achieved through the use of a deector member 27 smaller in size than the inlet 1l and disposed within the ared portion of the casing beyond the end of the inlet to intercept part of the air stream delivered through the latter, the deector being perforated by holes 26 (Fig. 5) and 26a (Fig. 6) and adjustably mounted if it is desired to vary the amount of such interception after installation in service use. Preferably the deector member takes the form of a thin disk lying adjacent the face plate 22 and movable relative thereto to bring the holes 26 or 269' therein into varying degrees of register with the perforations 25 of the face plate. In the forms shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the holes are of the same size and shape as the perforations 25 and 25a in the face plate and are equally spaced over the entire area of the disk.

While the disk may be rotatably mounted on the face plate and turned relative thereto to obtain different areas of interception of the incoming air stream as shown in Figs. 13 and 15, it is preferred to adjust the disk edgewise in a straight line. To this end, the face plate 22 is formed with an elongated slot 28 (Figs. 5, 6, and 8) loosely receiving a bar 29 herein comprising two strips having bent over anges 30 which are welded or other- Wlse secured against the top of the deector disk with a spacer 30a' separating the two so as to permit free edgewise shifting of the disk.

The other edges of the strips project through the slot 28 and are spread apart as indicated at 30b to provide a handle which may be grasped to shift the bar and disk along the slot. The bar is thus secured to the disk but slidable with a close friction t along the slot 28 which is long enough to permit the holes and perforations on the disk and face plate to be brought into full register (Fig. 1), any desired degree of partial register (Fig. 5 or to be fully covered (Fig. 6). When circular holes and perforations are employed as illustrated in Figs. 1, 5, and 10, the slot 28 is extended diametrically of one row of holes in the respective plates. In the case of the slotted pattern shown in Fig. 5, the slot 28 extends diagonally of the elongated perforations 25 and 26 which are substantially covered in the position shown in Fig. 6. As the bar 29 is slid upwardly and to the right, full.

register of the perforations and holes is attained whe the bar reaches the end of the slot as shown in Fig. 7.

For certain patterns of distribution of the discharged air, the deector 27 may be circular in shape and is rounded and, for the square faced outlet shown, is re lated in size to that of the inlet 11. When circular in shape as shown in Figs. 2, 5, and l0, the diameter of the disk is more than half the minimum transverse dimension of the inlet but substantially less than the transverse dimension. With the diameter of the circular disk equal to two-thirds of the length of one side of the square inlet as shown in Fig. 1, the etective cross section' of the inlet is 2.8 times the area of the disk.

With the face plate 22 perforated to provide a large free area as described and the deflector 27 disposed opposite and of substantially smaller area than the inlet 11, it will be apparent that the total area of the plate holes 25 or 25asurrounding the dellector is substantially greater than the cross-sectional area of the inlet 11. I As` a result, the entire volume of air delivered through the inlet will flow through the unit without a change in its direction before contacting the face plate and without loss of its velocity or the creation of a static pressure within the unit. Thus, the deector 27 may be used in accordance with the present invention' to govern the direction of the air discharge from the face of the per-l forated plate 22 so as to produce various desired patterns for effective distribution of the air within the room in which the unit is eventually installed.

The unique manner in which the casing, the perforated face plate, and the adjustable deector coact to produce various air discharge patterns will now be described, it being irst assumed that the deilector is shifted to the position shown in Fig. 4 to bring the perforations 25 and the holes 26 out of register and thus close the central part of the face plate against the ow of air therethrough. In this position, the impingement area presented to the air stream delivered through the inlet 11 will be a maximum.

As the central portion of the advancing air stream encounters the closed disk, it will be deflected laterally and outwardly and, since an air stream does not bounce backwardly, the flow will be radially and outwardly in all directions along the inner surface of the disk as indicated by the arrows 32. Such outward lateral flow into the outer annular portion of the air stream as indicated at 33 will bend the latter outwardly as it passes through the perforations 25 as indicated at 34. The outward bending is further increased as a result of the low pressure region which develops at 35 within the casing due to the outward aring of the walls 17 and the fact that the latter are of straight contour all the way to the edge of the outlet. As a result of these two actions (the low pressure at 35 and the outward spreading of the central part of the air stream by the deilector 27), the four blankets of air flowing downwardly along the at walls 17 will be bent upwardly as they enter the room and will fan outwardly at a relatively small angle to the ceiling. Such wide spreading of the air stream is particularly desirable in cooling systems.

The unit conditioned as above described is particularly elfective in producing a strong aspirating action below the unit as the air stream advances into the room, that is, to cause mixing of incoming cool air with the room air so as to avoid exposure of the occupants to objectionable downwardly directed cold drafts. Since the central part of the fact plate is now closed, and the air is discharged in a tubular outwardly Haring stream, there will be aI relatively large region of low pressure immediately below the center of the unit. Room air drawn into this region as indicated by the arrows 36 will be exposed to the interior of the incoming stream and will mix rapidly with the latter. Also, due to the perforated character-of the face plate, the incoming air will be divided into va multiplicity of small streams at the points of entryv into the room. By aspiration, air from the room will be drawnL laterally andi in between these streams and mixed quickly with the latter owing to the large peripheral areas thereof; "The unit above described may, simply by adjustment of the deiector 27, be adapted for use'- in a heating system where it is usually desirable to direct most of the air downwardly in a substantially vertical direction. For this purpose, the disk 27 may be shifted to the position shown in Fig. l in which the holes 26 are in full register with thel perforations 25 in the face plate. As indicated by the arrows, air will iiow` vertically down through all of the holes in the disk and very little of the above described deilecting action of the latter will be exerted. At the same time, the low pressure in the region 35 will not, while acting alone, produce appreciable outward bending of the: peripheral part of the air stream; consequently there will be little spreading of the stream as it is discharged' into the room.

The conditions above' described and illustrated in Figs. l and 4 represent the extreme limits of the range through which the pattern of the discharged air may be varied to suit the requirements in various air conditioning installations. Any desired variation of the pattern within this range may be achieved by adjusting the deflector to the proper intermediate position. In such a case, the proportion ofthe incoming air which is delivered vertically will correspond to the amount of the uncovering of the central perforations 25. Similarly, the deecting action of the disk 27 and therefore the degree of spreading of the discharged air will decrease progressively as the perforations are uncovered. As a result, the spread and the throw of the discharged air stream may be varied to suit the prevailing service conditions including temperature of the delivered air, ceiling height, room size, etc.

The invention also contemplates the provision of novel means arranged within the casing for selective adjustment tot vary the direction of the discharged air stream and` also the volume of air delivered through the outlet. ln the form shown, this means comprises four generally llat vanes or baflies 38 of trapezoidal shape disposed withinthe inlet 11 with their longer edges substantially ooextensive with the sides of the collar and joined to the latter through hinges 39 (Figs. 10 and l1). The latter may be of the. so-called pintle type with one set of eyes formed at the edge of vanes 38 and the other set bent from a strip 4t]` spot welded or otherwise secured against the collar 10 so as to locate the hinge axes near and4 along the lines 16 of the intersection of the collar and the respective walls 17 so that the baiiles may be swung downwardly and outwardly to inactive positions against the inner sides of the walls 17 as shown at the right'in Fig. 10. By closely tting the hinge parts, enough friction may be developed to maintain any adjusted posit-ion of the individual baes. The latter are shorter than the vertical space between the hinges 39 and they face plate 22, but long enough to overlie the extreme outer edge of the deflector 27 when inclined at about forty-five degrees as shown in Fig. 1l.

`| `I'n this position of the baie 38, the corresponding perforated side portion of the face plate, although not closely covered by the bale, is nevertheless blocked effectuall`y. against any substantial flow of air therethrough. Thus, if it is` desired to contine the outward flow of the air to twoy directions from opposite sides of the outlet, the baffles. 38. corresponding to these directions are left in the inactive positions against the walls 17 as in the case of the upper and lower bailles in Fig. 10 whilethe other two bales are swung into active position as shown in Fig. l0. The latter bafes effectually block of the outwardl ow of the air from their corresponding sides of the outlet and a two way discharge of the air is attained from the other two sides of the outlet. If the air discharge is to be in only one direction, the other three of thebafes are swung to active position. Or, if a three direction discharge is desired, only the baillel correspond-- ing to the other direction is raised to active' position, the other three being left inactive and against the'walls 17.

TheA baffles 38 are most effective in their blocking or masking action when disposed at about 45' to the face plate as in the case of the right and' left hand battles shown in Fig. l0. lf only a partial blocking action in 4one or more directions is desired, the corresponding baies may be swung only part of the distance between the inactive and fully effective positions for example as shown in Fig. 11. Thus a lesser outward spreading ofthe discharged air stream may be achieved in the directions thus selected.

The baffles 38, when mounted as described above, may be utilized to perform the additional function` of regulating the volume of' air delivered throughthe outlet without detracting from the impinging action of the deflector 27 in producing outward spreading of the air stream. For this purpose, all of the bafes or vanes are swung inwardly and upwardly beyond the' vertical and toward the horizontal positions shown in Fig. l2, in which the greatest volume reduction is produced. In this position, the inclined ends 41 of the vanes lie close to each other at miter corners andthe inner or free edges 4-2 cooperates with each other to define the inlet 1l which, although of reduced area, remains centered withrespect to the collar 1G, the face plate 22, and the deector disk 27. The latter thus operates as described above in controlling the pattern and the throw of the discharged air stream.

The effective area of the inlet 11 may be increased from this minimum cross section by further opening of the baffles 38 in unison. This is done by swinging lthe vanes downwardly from the horizontal positions until the desired rate of flow through the inlet is attained.

For installations where it is desired to vary both the pattern and the volume of the discharged air, a second set of vanes 43 (Figs. l0 and 11) similar to the baf'es 3S may be mounted on the collar 10 and spaced above the baffles 38. As in the case of the baffles 38, the vanes. 43 are of trapezoidal shape and project from hinges 44 that may be secured to the sides of the collar 10` along the upper edge of the latter. These vanes may lie in inactive vertical position against the sides of the collar 10 or be swung into the inlet as'shown in Figs'. l andv l0`. The effective area of the inlet may thus be' reduced according to the volume of air desired to be delivered through the outlet. Bypositioning the Various. vanes 43 at the same angles relative to the horizontal, the inlet opening deined by their inner free edges willv always be centered properly relative to the axis of the unit and the deflector 27 and the discharged air will be distributed uniformly around the outlet.

The damper vanes 43, when used to reduce theA vol urne of air delivered through the unit, do not detract from the versatility of the unit in providing for long or short throws of the air stream. When al short throw is desired, the vanes 43 would be swung upwardly and. away from the face plate in order to obtain the desired` reduction in the volume of air delivered. In this 'position, the air stream flowing through the inlet of reduced area expands considerably within the flared .portion of the casing and thus strikesy the deflector 27 at al lower velocity. The outward throw of the air into theroom` is reduced correspondingly.

When a long throw at reduced volume is desired, the vanes 43 are swung inwardly to reduce the area ofthe inlet but are inclined downwardly as shown inv phantom: in Fig. l. The free ends of. the vanes their cooperate to form` an orice disposed close to the deflector 27 against which the air impinges at relatively high velocity. This, as described above, increases the outward liow of the discharged air stream.

The distribution unit above described lends itself readily to adjustmentautomaticallyv with" changes-.in operating 7 conditions, for example, the delivered air temperature when the conditioning system is changed from heating to cooling operation and vice versa. For this purpose, the deilector member 27 is slidably mounted on the face plate as described above and connected, preferably through an upstanding lug 45 (Figs. 16 and 17) near its center to one end of a rod 46 whose other end is coupled to the movable end of a bellows 47. The other end of the latter may be secured to a bracket 48 rigid with the casingof the outlet. Contractile springs 49 stretched between the bracket and the movable end of the bellows 47 tend to contract the latter as permitted by the prevailing volume of the expansible fluid filling the bellows.

The bellows .is disposed in the path of the air flowing through. the unit and dimensioned to hold the dellector disk'in the position shown in Fig. 7 and fully uncovering theperforations 25 when warm air such as is used for heating is being delivered through the outlet. The air stream is thus discharged downwardly through all parts of the face plate (Fig. 1) as is described during the heating season. When cold air is supplied through the outlet, the bellows 47 contracts and shifts the dellector 27 to fully cover the perforations 25 (Fig. 6) and thus the deflector is most elfective in producing maximum outward spreading of the air as it enters the room. The perforations 25 may be partially uncovered at intermediate temperatures so as to produce, if desired, a discharge pattern which varies progressively with the changes in the temperature of the air liowing through the unit.

Sometimes it is desirable to utilize the unit above described as a return air inlet as Well as a conditioned air supply outlet. This may be accomplished without detracting from the intended action of the deilector by an arrangement such as that shown in Fig. 15 in which a return air duct 50 is extended downwardly through the collar with its open lower end terminating at a central opening in the face plate 220. In this instance, the lower end of the duct 50 takes the form of a cylindrical collar 51 telescoping in and journaled on the -duct proper and having a narrow bottom flange 52 underlying the face plate. The perforated deflecto-r 27c is a flat ring held against a washer 53 on the face plate 22 by a plurality of lugs 54 rigid with the collar 51. A lug 55 on the deflector projects through an arcuate slot 56 in the face plate and is -accessible below the latter to permit turning of the deector to vary the uncovering of the perforations 25 in the same manner as with the slidable deflector disks above described. A decorative covering of suitable design may be applied to the lower end of the return air duct.

As before, the area of the deflector 27c is made sufciently smaller than the area of the ring-like inlet between the collar 10 and the return `duct 5() to insure that the total area of the uncovered perforations in the plate 22 is more than the area of the inlet. In this way, the air stream may flow directly through the unit without change in its direction or loss of its velocity which is utilized in the manner described above in controlling the resultant angle of discharge of the air from the face of the plate 22.

Instead of employing a disk perforated by relatively small holes as described above, a dellector member of the construction shown in Figs. 13 and 14 may be used. In this case, two disks 58 and 59 of equal size and disposed one above the other are formed with imperforate segmental arms of similar width. The disk 58 is xed to the top of the face plate 22 while the disk 59 is coupled as by a friction washer 60 to a pin 61 journaled in and projecting down through the face plate. By turning the pin, the arms 59 may be swung to positions covering the apertures between the arms 58 of the nonrotatable disk. Or, when the arms 59 overlap the arms 58, some or all of the perforations 25 intervening between the arms 58 will be uncovered, maximum opening of the perforations 25 being obtained when the arms 58 and 59 are in forated'by closely spaced holes 75 about 1A@ of an inch,

full register with each other. Thus, by turning the diskv4 59 back and forth the pattern lof the discharged air mayA be varied the same as with the deflector construction previously described.

-I have discovered lthat the velocity of the discharged air at angularly spaced points around the `outlet may be,

varied to produce different discharge patterns by varying the shapes of the inlet 11 and the deiector 27 in relation to each -other and to the outlet opening 9. For example, when the unit is constructed and adjusted as shown in Fig. 4 with the inlet neck 10 six inches square, the outlet 9 twelve inches square, and the circular deilector 27 four and one-half inches in diameter, the velocity at an eighteen inch radiusand three-fourths of an inch below the ceiling will vary as shown by the curve 70 (Fig. 22).

That is to say, the velocity varies from a maximum op,

posite the centers of the outlet edges and a minimum beyond the corners. The total variation is not substantial being only 175 feet per minute for a flow rate through the unit of 300 C. F. M. Such a unit is well suited for installations where it is desirable to throw the air outwardly approximately equal distances in all directions.

A similarly shaped velocity pattern 71 but with somewhat less variation between the maximum and minimum velocities will be achieved as shown in Fig. 25 when theA inlet neck 10 is made cylindrical instead of square and six inches in diameter.

A unit better suited for uniform distribution of the air to all parts including the corners of a relatively small room may be formed by employing a six inch cylindrical inlet 10 in a twelve inch square outlet 9 with the detiector 27a four and one-half inches square and centered relative to the `outlet axis but turned so that the corners -of the deilector bisect the side edges of the outlet 9 as shown in Figs. 18 and 23. In this instance, a larger part of the corner area of the face plate 22 is uncovered and a correspondingly smaller part of the area at the center of the sides is left open. As a result, the

air velocities outwardly from the corner of the outletl are increased substantially as compared to velocities opposite the centers of the outlet edges. Thus, by locating the outlet 9 with the edges paralleling the room walls, the peripheral discharge patterns achieved will cause a maximum throw of air toward the corners of the room. If, with the relationship shown in Fig. 23, the corners of the square dellector 27a are rounded off as indicated at 27b (Fig. 24), the minimum velocity opposite the centers of the outlet margins will be increased while retaining a generally square shape of the velocity pattern 72.

When the unit above described is conditioned for maximum outward spreading of the air delivered as is desirable in most cooling installations, warmer room air is aspirated eiectually into the center of the conical air stream 34 as indicated by the arrows 36 in Fig. 4 and `sweeps across the surface of the plate 22. Frequently this results in the condensation of moisture on the plate or objectionable discoloration thereof by the accumulation of the dust particles carried in the air. I have discovered that such smudging may be avoided by a simple adjustment of the deflector 27 shown in Fig. 5 or a construction of the latter to prevent the aspirated room air from coming into direct contact with the surface of the face plate. This may be accomplished by providing in the otherwise closed area of the dellector, a multiplicity of holes well distributed over the central dellecting area and correlated in size with the velocity of the air flowing through the unit so as to cause small streams or jets of the air, indicated at 77 in Fig. 19, to be discharged through the face plate and beyond the latter a short distance suflicient to block the aspirated stream and prevent it from coming into contact with the plate surface. For the ilow rates commonly used in room cooling systems, the desired blocking action is achieved when the deecting area is permanson 9 in diameter as compared toe/16 of' an inchA forv the` holes 25 in the outer or uncovered portionof the face plate. Preferably, the total ilow through the restrictedholes is on the order of to l0 percent of the total air'delivered through the inlet 11.

Where the deector 27a is formed as a separate plate lying against a face plate perforated by the holes 2S over its entire area, the restricted holes 75 are spaced to cor'- respond to the holes 25 as shown in Fig. 20. By means of a clamping bolt or rivet 76, the deflector may be held againstl the face plate 22 with the holes 75 in register with the holes 25. Or, if the deiiector is an integralv part of the face plate 22 as shown in Fig. 2l, the larger holes may be punched in the outer peripheral portion while the central or deflector area is perforated by the smaller holes. With the face plate and deflector constructed as shown in Figs. l to 5 to provide forivarying the air dischargey pattern in service, the restricted how through the deliector area may be achieved by a simple adjustment of the dehector to bring the desired area of the holes 25' and 26 into register. For this purpose and in order to achieve the required degree of restriction, the holes in the deflector may be shaped or spaced nonuniformly: as contrasted with the equal sizing and spacing shown in Fig. 5,

lt will be apparent that the air distribution unit in all of the forms above described is relatively` simple and economical in construction and at the Sametime presents a neat and artistic apeparance that blends well into rvarious ltinds of room Wall or ceiling constructions. isl extremely versatile in its adaptabilityto. the many different operating conditions that may be encountered in service. the air discharge pattern, the length of its throw, the Volume of air delivered, and the number of directions of discharge. air stream may be achieved by correlating the size,` and shape of the deflector area with that of. the inlet 11 and the outlet 9. The devices through which the service adjustments are made may all be mounted on andl concealed within the unit itself and are conveniently accessible forI adjustment either by moving a small projecting knob or by inserting a simple tool throughv theperforations of theface plate.

By a simple variation in construction the unit` may be adapted for use in installations Where objectionablev dis end, said, outlet having an area at least four times the free area of said, inlet, a face plate lessthan .035` of an inch thick. c overing said outlet and havingy closely spaced perforations therethrough. distributed over; substantially the full area of the outletand having a combined. free area between 35 and 55 percent of the; total areaof. the:

outlet, and a deilector member, means on said casing supporting saidrmernber adjacent said face plate and opposite the inlet to intercept part off the air streamowing,

through said inlet, the total area of said deector member being less than the fullV areaof lsaid inlet.

2. An air distribution unit having, in combination, a

hollow casing defining at one end aninlet and atthe other end an outlet, said outlet having an area substantially greater than the free area of said inlet, a thin faceplate covering saidv outlet and having, perforations` therethroughv distributed over the full areay of the outletA and having al combined free area between 35- and 55 percent' of thel total area of the outlet, a deiiector member, and means supporting saidt dellectori adjacent said? face plateA and; op-

positey the. inlet' to intercept@ part" of. the air streaml how That is to say, it may be adjusted easilyto: varyy Or various peripheral shapes of-r the discharged.

ingI through said inlet, the totalarea ot'` said defiector' member being less than the full area of said inlet.

3.. An air distribution unit having, in combination, a hollow casing dening at one end an inlet andat the other end an outlet, said outlet having an area substantially larger than the free area of said inlet, a thin face plate covering said outlet and having perforations therethrough alternating with imperforate areas and having a combined free area approximating half the total area of the outlet, and a deector member of smaller area than said inlet disposed adjacent said face plate and opposite the inlet to intercept part of the air stream owing through the inlet, and means supporting said member for movement thereof relative to said plate to uncovery varying areas of the perforations in the plate.

4. An air distribution unit'having, in combination, a hollow casing dehning at opposite ends an inlet and an outlet, a perforated face plate covering said outlet, a dehector member disposed within said casing adjacent said face plate and opposite the inlet to intercept part of thev air stream flowing through said inlet, said member having apertures therethrough and being movable relative to saidV plate to vary the air flow through the covered portion of the plate, a thermostatic actuator disposed within saidl casing and expansible and contractible with changes in the temperature of the air flowing therethrough, and mechanism connecting said dellector member and said actuator for movement of the member thereby to varythe degree of uncovering of said perforations in accordance with said temperature changes.

5. An air distribution unit having, in combination, a hollow casing dening at opposite ends an inlet and an outlet, a perforated face plate covering said outlet, ade- -iiector member disposed Within said casing adjacent said face plate and opposite the inlet to intercept part of the air stream flowing through said inlet, said member having apertures therethrough and being movable relative to said plate to vary the air ow through the covered portion ofthe plate, and means responsive to changes in the condition of the air delivered through said casing to shift said deflector member and vary the degree of uncovering of the perforations in the covered portion of said plate.

6. An air distribution unit having, in combination, a hollow casing having an linlet at one end and a larger outlet at the other end, a collar smaller than said inlet delining an air passage extending along the axis of said casing and mounted at the outlet end thereof to turn abouty said axis, a perforated plate surrounding said collar and" covering the larger end of said outlet, and -a movable deflector ring surrounding said collar adjacent said plateI and overlapping the inner edge portion of the latter, said ring having apertures therethrough adapted for diiferent degrees of register with the perforations of said plate.

7. An air distribution unit having, in combination, a hollow casing having an inlet at one end defined by hat sides paralleling the casing axis and an outlet at the other end with fla-t Walls merging with said inlet sides and haring outwardly, a perforated face plate covering the larger endof said outlet, a de'ector member covering the central portion of said face plate and adaptedv to intercept part ofthe air stream flowing from said inlet, and a plurality of baffles each hinged on said casing along the junction v of one Iofsaid sides and walls to swing between an outer inactive position adjacent said wall and an active positionr overlying the edge of said deiiector member whereby' toreduce the outwardv spreading of the air from the corresponding side of said outlet.

8. An air distribution unit having, in combination, a' lhollow casing having an inlet at one end definedv by hat'` sides paralleling the casing axis and an outlet at the other end` with flat walls merging with said inlet sides and haringoutwardly, a deflector member smaller than said inlet, means on saidfcasing adjacent the larger end of said out let: supporting saidv member to intercept part of the air stream how-ing through the casing from the inlet, and a.

l1 plurality of baiiles hinged on said casing along the junctions of said sides and walls and swingable into positions overlying the edge of said deflector member whereby to reduce the outward spreading of the air leaving the corresponding sides of said outlet.

9. An air distribution unit having, in combination, a hollow casing having an inlet at one end and an outlet larger than said inlet at the other end, a deflector smaller than said inlet, means on said casing supporting said deflector in said outlet in a position to intercept part of the air stream yflowing through the casing whereby to effect lateral spreading of the tubular air stream discharged from the periphery of said outlet, and a baille hinged at the side wall of said casing to swing into positions overlying the edge of said deflector whereby to reduce the outward spreading of the air lfrom one side of said outlet.

10. An air distribution unit having, in combination, a hollow casing having `aninlet end of a rectangular cross section and an outlet larger than said inlet at the other end, vanes of trapezoidal shape hinged at their longer side edges on the sides of said inlet end and adapted, when swung into a plane normal to the casing axis to form miter junctions at the adjacent ends of adjacent vanes, the shorter side edges of said vanes cooperating to define an inlet, a deflector member of smaller area than said outlet, and means on said casing mounting said member opposite said inlet and in the path of the air stream delivered therethrough.

11. An air distribution unit having, in combination, a hollow casing adapted for the flow of air axially therethrough and having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end, said outlet being polygonal in shape and substantially larger in area than said inlet, a thin face plate covering said outlet and having perforations therethrough, and a deflector member smaller than said 1nlet adjacent said face pla-te and covering the central portion of the face plate to control the flow of air through said central portion, the periphery of said member being rounded to space the corners of said outlet farther from the member than the remaining portions of the outlet.

12. An air distribution outlet having, in combination, a tubular casing having an inlet at one end and llaring axially toward and terminating at the other end in an outlet of rectangular cross section and of an area substantially larger than the smallest cross section of said inlet, a deflector of an area substantially smaller than said inlet and paralleling and disposed adjacent the plane of said outlet to intercept part of the air stream flowing through said inlet and deflect such air laterally and outwardly, and a thin plate disposed in said plane and covering said outlet and perforated in the area surrounding said deflector by closely spaced holes permitting the air flowing therethrough to be diverted by said deflected air and discharged from said outlet at a small angle relative to said plane, said inlet being circular in cross section and said deflector having a rectangular periphery with the sides thereof inclined relative to the side edges of said outlet.

13. An air distribution outlet having, in combination, a tubular casing having an inlet at one end and flaring axially toward and terminating at the other end in an outlet of rectangular cross section and of an area substantially larger than the smallest cross section of said inlet, a deflector of an area substantially smaller than said inlet and paralleling and disposed adjacent the plane of said outlet to intercept part of the air stream flowing through said inlet and deflect such air laterally and outwardly, and a thin plate disposed in said plane and covering said outlet and perforated in the area surrounding said deector by closely spaced holes permitting the air flowing therethrough to be diverted by said deflected air and discharged from said outlet at a small angle relative to said plane, said inlet being rectangular in cross section and said deflector comprising a substantially circular disk approximately centered in said outlet.

14.` An air distribution outlet having, in combination, a tubular casing having an inlet at one end and flaring axially toward and terminating at the other end in an alined outlet of an area substantially larger than the smallest cross section of said inlet, and a thin plate covering said outlet and carrying a deflector of substantially smaller area than said inlet and disposed opposite the latter to intercept part of the air stream flowing through said inlet and deflect such air outwardly and laterally across the surrounding area of said plate, the latter area being perforated by closely spaced holes permitting the air flowing therethrough to be diverted outwardly by said deflected air and discharged from said plate at a small angle relative to the plane thereof and the total area of the uncovered holes surrounding said deflector area being larger than the area of said inlet.

15. An air distribution outlet having, in combination, a tubular casing having an inlet at one end and flaring axially toward andl terminating at the other end in an outlet of an area substantially larger than the smallest cross section of said inlet, and a thin plate covering said outlet and carrying a deflector of substantially smaller area than said inlet and disposed opposite the latter to intercept part of the air stream flowing through said inlet and deflect such air outwardly and laterally across the surrounding area of said plate, the latter area being perforated by closely spaced holes permitting the air flowing therethrough to be diverted outwardly by said deflected air and discharged from said plate at an angle relative to the plane thereof, said holes occupying more than 35 percent of the uncovered area of the plate around the deflector.

16. An air distribution outlet having, in combination, a tubular casing having an inlet at one end and flaring axially toward and terminating at the other end in an outlet of rectangular cross section and of an area substantially larger than the smallest cross section of said inlet, and a plate approximately .035 of an inch thick covering said outlet and carrying a deflector of substantially smaller area than said inlet and disposed opposite the latter to intercept part of the air stream flowing through said inlet and deflect such air outwardly and laterally across the surrounding area of said plate, the latter area being perforated by closely spaced holes permitting the air flowing therethrough to be diverted outwardly by said deflected air and discharged from said plate at an angle relative to the plane thereof, said holes occupying more than 3S percent of the uncovered area of the plato around the deflector.

17. An air distribution outlet having, in combination, a tubular casing having an inlet at one end and flaring axially toward and terminating at the other end in an alined outlet of an area substantially larger than the smallest cross section of said inlet, and a thin plate covering said outlet and carrying a deflector of substantially smaller area than said inlet and disposed opposite the latter to intercept part of the air stream flowing through said inlet and deflect such air outwardly and laterally across the surrounding area of said plate, the latter area being perforated by closely spaced holes permitting the air flowing therethrough to be diverted outwardly by said deflected air and discharged from said plate at a small angle relative to the plane thereof and the total area of the uncovered holes surrounding said deflector area being larger than the area of said inlet, said deflecting area of said plate being perforated by closely spaced holes substantially smaller than said first mentioned holes and permitting a small fraction of the intercepted air to be discharged through the plate normal thereto and over a short range of throw whereby to oppose the flow of hollow casing adapted for the flow of air axially there- 2,821,898 13 14 through and having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the perforations in the remaining outer peripheral porthe other end, said outlet being substantially larger in tion of the plate being uncovered. area than said inlet, a thin face plate covering said outlet and having perforations therethrough, and an apertured Refelelles Cited in the file 0f this P31911t deector member smaller in area than said inlet covering 5 UNTTED STATES PATENTS the central portion of said face plate and mounted adjacent said face plate for movement relative to the plate slueftme to bring the perforations in the plate and the apertures 2 0592115 Staceyye' bg'v 3 1936 in the member into and out of register thereby to control the ow of air through the central portion of the plate, l0 

